Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2025 - SA 410 E100

Sociology of Dangerous Classes (S) (4)

Class Number: 4954

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2025: Tue, 5:30–9:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Instructor:

    Dany Lacombe
    lacombe@sfu.ca
    Office Hours: Tuesday 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm or by appointment

  • Prerequisites:

    Minimum of 72 units including either SA 101 or 150 or 201W.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Offers specialized instruction on advanced topics pertaining to the social and moral regulation of human subjects in both historical and contemporary contexts. It explores the ideologies, policies and practices of regulation and governance in application to selected social contexts and subjects including, but not confined to, welfare, justice, medicine, the 'psy' sciences, immigration, labour, sexuality, pornography, racialization, gender and family. Students will acquire specialized knowledge about the profound impact of civil and state regulation projects on societies past and present, and about the rich diversity of institutional, cultural and human experience that these social ordering ideologies, policies and practices encompass.

COURSE DETAILS:

The criminal continues to occupy a central place amongst the “dangerous classes” – a concept used in sociology to refer to groups or kinds of people society deems a threat to social order.  Over the years, western societies have devoted significant effort to identifying, classifying, punishing, reforming, and normalizing criminals. Many theories and areas of expertise have been developed to explain criminality and many policies have been implemented to control, treat, and manage criminals––all with the aim of making society safer.

Drawing on the work of Erving Goffman, Michel Foucault, and Ian Hacking among others, this course examines the institutional, cultural, and human experience involved in the social and moral regulation of two kinds of criminals: the habitual offender and the sex offender. 

This course is run as a problem-based course in which students learn directly from participating in a research experience. To this effect, students will have access to the professor’s ethnographic and interview data from two research projects: one on the treatment of incarcerated sex offenders and the other on the life story of a habitual offender. As part of the learning experience, students will actively engage in the collection, interpretation, and analysis of primary data.

 

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

  1. Students will develop a sociological imagination about aspects of moral regulation of deviant lives.
  2. Students will develop a theoretical understanding of the connection between social norms, expertise and the making up of identities.
  3. Students will develop public speaking skills by engaging in discussions on topics related to the moral regulation of deviant lives.
  4. Students will develop research skills by engaging with primary data.
  5. Students will develop their writing skills both practically through writing itself and theoretically through writing about deviant lives.

Grading

  • Tests (One test at 10% and one test at 15%) 25%
  • Class participation (Leading/facilitating a class discussion with the instructor: 10%; notetaking for the class: 10%; and active class participation: 10%) 30%
  • Engaging with primary research data (Includes review of a video, interview data, and a correctional file) 35%
  • Private discussion on research data with instructor 10%

NOTES:

Grading: Where a final exam is scheduled and the student does not write the exam or withdraw from the course before the deadline date, an N grade will be assigned. Unless otherwise specified on the course syllabus, all graded assignments for this course must be completed for a final grade other than N to be assigned. An N is considered as an F for the purposes of scholastic standing.

Grading System: The Undergraduate Course Grading System is as follows:

A+ (95-100) | A (90-94) | A- (85-89) | B+ (80-84) | B (75-79) | B- (70-74) | C+ (65-69) | C (60-64) | C- (55-59) | D (50-54) | F (0-49) | N*
*N standing to indicate the student did not complete course requirements

Academic Honesty and Student Conduct Policies: The Department of Sociology & Anthropology follows SFU policy in relation to grading practices, grade appeals (Policy T20.01), and academic honesty and student conduct procedures (S10‐S10.05). Unless otherwise informed by your instructor in writing, in graded written assignments you must cite the sources you rely on and include a bibliography/list of references, following an instructor-approved citation style. It is the responsibility of students to inform themselves of the content of SFU policies available on the SFU website.

Centre for Accessible Learning: Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need classroom or exam accommodations are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (1250 Maggie Benston Centre) as soon as possible to ensure that they are eligible and that approved accommodations and services are implemented in a timely fashion.

The Sociology and Anthropology Student Union, SASU, is a governing body of students who are engaged with the department and want to build the SA community. Get involved!  Follow Facebook and Instagram pages or visit our website.

Materials

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.